Tuesday, May 26, 2015

It is only appropriate that during this extraordinary 150th
anniversary year at Peirce, the 2015 Spring Reception had the feeling of a
family reunion. Alumni who returned to
campus on Monday, May 18 represented eight decades of the school’s history:
from Clem and Liz Piscitelli from the Class of 1948, up to and including
several members of the class of 2014, over 200 guests came to catch up with old
friends, meet and network with new acquaintances, and celebrate their ties to
the school.

The Spring Reception also marks the time for the Peirce
College Alumni Association to recognize individuals who, by their service to
their community, profession, or the College, offer an example of excellence to
their fellow graduates. Alumni Board
President Reggie Waller ’04 joined Peirce President & CEO, Jim Mergiotti, in
presenting this year’s awards.

The 2015 Distinguished Alumni Award was presented to Thomas
Heck from the Class of 1963. Tom Heck has been a loyal friend, supporter, and
benefactor of Peirce for decades. He served as a Trustee of Peirce for
seventeen years, providing exemplary leadership and counsel as well as guiding
Peirce through transitions which resulted in the College we know and love
today. A former member of the Alumni Association Board, Tom is also a member of
the College’s Wall of Fame. As a student, Tom was a member of Pi Sigma Chi and
a member of the basketball team.

Tom is president of Heck Bros., which has been serving the
Reading and Berks County area for over 100 years. His grandfather and his
great uncle opened their first greenhouse in 1907, never imagining that it
would turn into a wildly successful family business spanning three generations.
Tom assumed management in 1976 and has expanded the business to two spacious
state-of-the-art locations in Wyomissing and Exeter. Tom is married to his wife
Kathleen and is the father of five children.

Over the years, Tom has demonstrated extraordinary service
to the community in which he lives and works, including his current service on
Council of Trustees, Kutztown University, a position to which he was appointed
by former Governor Tom Corbett. Although it's been over 50 years since Tom first
set foot on campus, his active involvement in the history of the College helped
set us on course to become the institution of higher learning we are today.

The 2015 Distinguished Service Award was presented to Gene
Fazzie ’70 and Carl Grozinski ’69. Through their leadership of the first-ever
Peirce Greek Reunion, they galvanized their fellow alumni to reconnect with one
another and the College.

During the time they attended Peirce Junior College, they
were both profoundly shaped by their Greek experience: Gene is a brother of
Sigma Gamma Omega and Carl is a brother of Pi Sigma Chi. Gene and Carl’s own
deep bond of friendship was sealed when, after their Peirce experience, they
both attended Penn State at the Harrisburg campus.

Over two years ago, Carl and Gene decided to work with their
mentor, Peirce legend Ray Palzer ‘52, to put together a fraternity and sorority
reunion. They spent countless hours recruiting a committee of dedicated
volunteers, tracking down long lost brothers and sisters, and putting together
a stellar event which drew 140 happy participants together one fine Sunday
afternoon this past October.

It is important to note that the benefits of their work did
not end with the conclusion of the event. Carl Grozinski and Gene Fazzie have
started a chain of goodwill which has reenergized Peirce’s Greek community. A
vibrant group of alumni are connected once again with each other and with the
College. In reuniting their fellow fraternity and sorority members, they have
also positively impacted the countless students and graduates who will benefit
from the strong support of a more bonded Peirce alumni network.

The Peirce alumni community will have the chance to once
again connect in person with one another as we celebrate our 150th anniversary
in September. A Fun Walk and Scavenger Hunt will be held on Saturday, September
12th; a Community of Leaders Breakfast on Tuesday, September 15th; and our
capstone event, a Peirce community-wide birthday party in observance of
Founders’ Day on September 17th. Please
remember to save those dates and be on the lookout for more information.

If you would like to learn more about getting involved in
the Alumni Association and help create community among our graduates and
students, contact me at rfconnors@peirce.edu or 215-670-9003.